Fatigue is a thief. It creeps up on you and steals your creativity, your motivation, your clarity of thought, and your sensitivity to God’s direction.

I’m writing this post after working a 9-hour day that included a brief break somewhere in the afternoon, but I’m not sure where…..it’s all a blur. Physical fatigue can affect mental clarity and emotional stability. Right now I just want chocolate and French fries, and it’s hard to think about what songs would go well in a worship set or what scriptures I want to use during my next speaking engagement.

So what should I do?

Here are three things I try to do when I’m physically tired or mentally fatigued.

I hide. Yes, I hide. I find a quiet place where no one will talk to me while I just breathe and set things aside. It’s important to avoid stressors during this time.

I pray. But my prayer is not formal, and it’s more like a thanksgiving. I’ll say, “Thank you Lord for your strength. Thank you for your wisdom. Thank you that as I wait upon you and pay attention to you and tell you that you are absolutely amazing, I’m being renewed by you.”

I don’t evaluate anything. When people are tired, simple things appear to be monstrous or insurmountable. Because physical and mental fatigue can affect emotions and clarity of thought, I recommend that you not evaluate your recent worship service, a recent confrontation, or a relationship issue when you’re tired; it will be blown out of proportion in your mind.

You know, leading worship requires physical stamina. The prep, the vocal or instrumental practice, the musical execution during the set, and at times the set up and tear down of gear all create fatigue. Take some time to rest physically, and take some time to refresh spiritually.

God will sustain us, but He does expect us to be good stewards of the bodies He gave us.